“TMZ last week put out a public call for tips on lawmaker sightings as the partial government shutdown dragged on, leaving thousands of Department of Homeland Security employees without pay.”

“TMZ doesn’t play sides: it highlighted how Seth Magaziner, a Democratic congressman of Rhode Island, is headed to a Real Housewives watch party this week during the shutdown.”

“The outlet also photographed Robert Garcia, a Democratic California representative, at a Las Vegas casino, which he addressed on X: 'Actually I don’t mind what TMZ is doing here,' Garcia wrote, noting he had been visiting his father, and blamed Mike Johnson, the US House speaker, for sending everyone home in the first place.”

“Harvey Levin, TMZ’s founder and executive producer, said in a statement: 'We spontaneously came up with the idea to juxtapose members of Congress on their Spring Break against federal workers who are losing their homes, their cars, their livelihoods.'”

“TMZ has been building a presence on Capitol Hill for months with their own team... conducting hallway interviews with senators and representatives.”

“Sara Jacobs, a Democratic California representative, compared Congress to high school in her TMZ interview – a clip that was viewed 6m times on X.”

“Sarah McBride, a Democratic Delaware representative, told TMZ working on the Hill felt like a crossover between the Real Housewives and Traitors.”